Carol Lea Benjamin

When she was a little girl, Carol's mother was hoping she'd become the next Shirley Temple because she had naturally curly hair. It was a curious wish because Carol couldn't hold a tune, act or dance. What Carol wanted, from as far back as she could remember, was to become a dog trainer and a writer. After trying several other things along the way, teaching school, working as a private investigator, typing the same letter over and over for a charity, she finally did get both her wishes. Her books have won many fans and many awards, for which she is extremely grateful. But most satisfying is that she has been able to help dogs behave better, get smarter and be more fun for their people and that she has been able to mine what her mother used to call her "overactive imagination" and tell stories for people to read after - or instead of - a hard day's work. She still can't sing, dance or act, but some few people think she can write and she maintains this illusion herself.